Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board More Cottonwood Lakes/ Horseshoe Meadows questions

I'm heading north to hook up with the JMT. I want a relatively easy first day, since I'm driving up from sea level. I have a permit to start on the Cottonwood Pass Trail and was thinking camping at Chicken Spring Lake the first night.
Good spot? Super crowded on a Sat. night?
or...
would it be better/ nicer to start in the Cottonwood Lakes area, granted I can score a permit, and maybe stay the night at Long Lake or High Lake? Are there any restrictions at these lakes? This area looks really cool.
Its not really a big deal, just curious, since it will be my first time in the area.
Thanks,
Trent

The last time I was at Chicken Springs Lake there was absolutely nobody there.

That sounds good

Dude High Lake is pretty awesome. Make camp at the lake and go exploring up New Army Pass or Cirque Peak. The next day you can camp out Lakes 3/4 and bag Langley the next day. Just be careful about getting close to the edge. I was lying on my stomach trying to get a pic of the dropoff and I almost lost my Oakleys.

South Fork Lake is a better first day place to camp the 1st night. While the trail is not on most current Topo maps, there is a posted trail map up there..with signs starting from Cottonwood/Horseshoe. An easy 4 miles. Nice camp site...not as sandy/dusty as Chicken Spring Lake.

mono, markskor: thanks for the info.

I'm with Marskor, Chicken Spring Lake is an ugly ass way station. A good place if you are doing Cirque and getting out of Dodge or a short first day before heading for Lower Rock Creek Crossing. It is usually very crowded during the summer.

The South Fork Lakes Trail is a good one that hardly anyone uses. There is good campsite just above the trail on your right as you get to the junction for South Fork Lakes. It is near the trail and hide in plain sight with great view of Cirque Peak and South Fork Lakes Drainage.

For what it's worth, I just did the Cottonwood Pass Trail to Whitney, and there was NOBODY from Cottownwood Trailhead all the way to the Rock Creek Ranger Station. NOBODY. We did our hike last week.

I'm sure it will get more crowded as summer progresses, but I was amazed that there were no other overnighters out there. We went from Friday to Monday.

I have a permit for the Cottonwood Pass Trail.
After about a mile or so on the Cottonwood Pass Trail, TOPO!shows a trail that goes north up to Cottonwood Lakes area, and specifically the South Fork Lakes.
2002 Harrison map shows nothing.
Anyone have info on this trail or any other connecting Horseshoe Meadows with Cottonwood Lakes?
I couldn't get a hold of a ranger at IVC.
I think I'd like to stay at the South Fork Lakes.

Thanks,
Trent

Phone lines are back up!

I just reserved two spots (7 left) for this friday at Cottonwood Pass

There were no more spots available at Cottonwood Lakes

I'm trying to get a permit for Sat, July 14, which is all booked up. I already have one for July 15 (Cottonwood Pass Trail), but I want to start a day earlier now and camp at South Fork Lake (instead of one of the trailhead campgrounds), then go over New Army the next day, and camp somewhere along Rock Creek on day 2.

Maybe someone will cancel or I can can walk into IVC July 14 and score one. No biggie if not.

Katahdin: have fun on your trip.

Trent